Peach tree named `Delmass`

ABSTRACT

A peach tree having white-fleshed fruit which are firm and store well.

GENERAL DATA

The origin of this peach tree is unknown, but very probably it grew fromseeds of different peach varieties which were planted in my garden inthe years prior to and since 1978. These were the following kinds ofpeaches:

a. Sims

b. Babcock

c. Wild white fleshed peach

d. White fleshed nectarines

e. Indian Red (from year to year I planted Indian Red seeds.)

There are over 100 peach trees and all of them are heavily pruned toform a bush rather than a tree, and they are crowded together to get themaximum number of trees, and for ease of cultivation and the use of dripirrigation.

This peach tree originated as a newly discovered seedling, has beenasexually reproduced on my premises and it is in good health andproducing peaches the same as the mother tree.

I have researched my texts on Pomology and Horticulture to determine ifthis variety of peach had already been discovered. I have also discussedthis peach with persons in the Produce Market (Oakland, Calif.) todetermine if indeed prior discovery may have occurred; there is nonethat I have investigated, nor am I aware of any one having asexuallyreproduced this peach variety, nor have I given any one any portion ofthis tree.

Tree is of moderate height, bark is rugose, soil condition is loam toadobe, climate is generally dry, temperature very moderate with dry, hotsummers. Hardiness zone is 10.

DRAWINGS

The upper photo shows a fruit cluster, while the lower photo shows asingle fruit.

SPECIFICATION

As follows:

a. Description:

b. Form of tree: no distinction can be made between this tree and theother trees.

c. Leaf characteristics: Color of upper part of leaves dark green andthe bottom color of leaves is a light apple green. The Indian Red hasleaves similar in size, shape, and color to this one.

1--Leaves are lanceolate in shape.

2--Leaf thickness is comparable to others.

3--Moderate curvature along mid-rib.

4--The leaves of the Sims peach are a stronger yellow than this leaf.

5--Leaf color at the end of the petiole contains light red and purple.

6--Serration on leaf margins are medium.

7--Pubescent buds more ovate than other peach varieties.

8--Pigmentation of exocarp at maturity is a red purple with yellow hues.

9--Petiole about one half inch long.

10--One to several reniform glands of medium to large size arrangedalternately.

d. Blossom characteristics:

1--Simple flower bud.

2--Blossoms are very small.

3--Pale orange color.

4--Full bloom at end of March.

5--Blossoms start at mid-March, early compared to other peaches.

6--Temperature variation important.

7--Total bloom time three weeks plus or minus a few days.

e. Fruit characteristics:

1--Immature fruit is set in latter part of March to early April.

2--Immature fruit is sweet.

3--Immature fruit has little acid.

4--At maturity peach will grow over three inches in diameter.

5--Color of new crop is ivory with faint tint of yellow and a redendocarp.

6--Seed is of a large size and more oval than other peaches.

7--Flesh is of melting variety.

8--Fruit is suborbicular in shape.

9--Pubescence is very light compared to others.

10--Fruit is very firm.

11--Moderately subject to brown rot, not easily bruised.

12--Abscissions moderate to heavy.

13--Mesocarp is ivory with a faint hue of yellow.

14--Using the Mickel-Levy color chart the color of this peach is in thefirst order and the second order in the range of 536 to 600 when fullyripe having the hues of purple/violet along with patches or red/yellow.

15--Skin easily pulled off when ripe.

16--There is little apex and suture.

17--Very difficult to separate the endocarp from the mesocarp.

18--Bears from late July through August.

19--Has good storage qualities.

20--Some tendency to oxidize.

21--Apex is less pronounced.

I do hereby claim:
 1. A distinct and new variety of a plant as fullydescribed in the above written specifications by this applicant and asshown from the color photographs.